| KANSAS CITY, MO (03/31/2014) – The Kansas City Chiefs were recognized at a luncheon on Friday, March 28, 2014 for winning the AFC West Designated Driver Challenge for the second straight season. The Chiefs were victorious over the Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers. Representatives from the Chiefs, Anheuser-Busch and TEAM Coalition gathered for the celebration.The AFC West Designated Driver Challenge tracked the number of fans who pledged to be designated drivers at the 2013 regular season home games for all four teams. Each fan who pledged to be a designated driver at Arrowhead Stadium earned the Chiefs six points in the challenge – a touchdown. Additionally, fans who “liked” the Facebook posts about the Challenge earned the team an extra point. With a total of 97,062 points, the Chiefs’ 16,177 designated drivers outscored the rest of the AFC West. The Chiefs were second in the league among all 32 teams for designated drivers. Only the New England Patriots had more fans pledge to be designated drivers in 2013. Click here to see the final standings of the AFC West Designated Driver Challenge.
(left to right) Zach Nizolek, Kansas City Chief; Jared Aeschbach, Kansas City Chiefs; Jill Pepper, TEAM Coalition; Kevin Mucklow, Anheuser-Busch.
The Chiefs, Arrowhead Stadium, County Beverage Company, Inc., Bud Light and ARAMARK have been working together successfully to offer fans the Bud Light Good Sport designated driver program for many seasons. In 2013 the partnership earned a 10% increase in fan participation relative to the prior season.
“We’re pleased to work with the Chiefs, TEAM Coalition and the other program partners to recognize fans who look out for each other and make a designated driver part of their game plan,” said Kathy Casso, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility for Anheuser-Busch. “When it comes to preventing drunk driving, we’re all part of the team.”
“Teamwork is exactly what this organization is all about,” said Jill Pepper, executive director of TEAM Coalition. “Through the Bud Light Good Sport Designated Driver Challenge, we are demonstrating that when everyone – including the fans – takes responsibility, everyone wins.”
The designated driver program is just one component of the fan behavior initiatives offered by the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Other components include:
- A Fan Code of Conduct posted in and around Arrowhead Stadium
- Text messaging empowers fans to report disruptive behavior to security
- Alcohol service policies including ID checks for fans who look 35 years of age or younger, no more than two alcoholic beverages per person per transaction and alcohol cut-off at the end of the third quarter
About TEAM Coalition
TEAM Coalition is an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaires, stadium service providers, the beer industry, distillers, broadcasters, governmental traffic safety experts, and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports and entertainment facilities. TEAM’s members and supporters include the National Football League, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletic Association, ARAMARK, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Ovations Food Services, Beer Institute, National Beer Wholesalers Association, Anheuser-Busch, MillerCoors, Brown-Forman, Live Nation, National Association of Broadcasters, Contemporary Services Corporation, Elite, International Association of Venue Managers, Stadium Managers Association and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. www.TEAMCoalition.org.
About Anheuser-Busch
For three decades, Anheuser-Busch and its nationwide network of wholesalers have invested more than $980 million in national advertising campaigns and community-based programs to promote responsible drinking, prevent underage drinking and drunk driving and address college issues. For more information on these alcohol responsibility efforts and the progress being made, visit www.anheuser-busch.com. |
